Effects of Mangaba (Hancornia speciosa) Fruit Extract Adsorbed onto PEG Microspheres in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells Co-Cultured with Blood Cells.

Objective: To evaluate the antitumor effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG) microspheres with adsorbed Hancorniaspeciosa ethanolic extract (HSEE) on blood mononuclear (MN) cells co-cultured with MCF-7 breast cancer cells.Methods: PEG microspheres were adsorbed with HSEE and examined by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.MCF-7 and MN cells obtained from volunteer donors were pre-incubated alone or co-cultured (MN and MCF-7cells) for 24 h with or without HSEE, PEG microspheres or PEG adsorbed with HSEE (PEG-HSEE). Cell viability,superoxide release and superoxide dismutase were determined. Results: Fluorescence microscopy showed that PEGmicrospheres were able to absorb HSEE throughout their surface. Irrespective of the treatment, the viability index ofMN cells, MCF-7 and their co-culture was not affected. Superoxide release increased in co-cultured cells treated withHSEE, adsorbed or not onto PEG microspheres. In co-cultured cells, SOD levels in culture supernatant increased inthe treatment with HSEE, adsorbed onto PEG microspheres or not. Conclusion: HSEE has direct effects on MN cellsco-cultured with MCF-7 cells. The results suggest the benefits of Hancornia speciosa fruit consumption by women atrisk of breast cancer. In addition, because PEG-HSEE maintained oxidative balance in co-cultured cells, it is a promisingalternative for the treatment of tumor cells.